Bike Initiative: Results of Bike Theft survey of victims

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  Wednesday, January 24, 2024   10:40 am

(Ottawa) — Last year, the Ottawa Police Service D Platoon ByWard Market team completed a Bike Initiative, recovering 56 bikes, and also conducted a survey with 60 persons who had been victims of a bike theft.

Here are the survey results:

• 43 of the 60 persons polled (71.7%) said that their bike was locked when it was stolen, while 17 (28.3%) said their bike was unlocked.

• When asked where their bikes were stolen from, 28.3 percent of the victims said that it was stolen while they were out and about; 13.3 percent of the victims said that it was stolen in a garage; while 6.7 percent said that the bikes were stolen from a shed or a condo bike locker.

• 31.7 percent said that they spent up to $50 on a bike lock while 35 percent said that they invested $50-$75. The remaining 33.4 percent said they spent $75+ on a bike lock.

• As many as 41 (68.3%) surveyed victims said that their bikes were primarily used for leisure; 39 (65%) said that they use their bikes to commute to school/work; while 23 (38.3%) stated that the bikes were used for fitness purposes.

• The majority of survey participants claimed that their bikes were valued from $500-$1000. Others said their bikes were worth up to $500 and some as high as $1500+.

• 35 percent of the victims stated that they use their bikes twice a week while 33.3 percent say they use it every day. Also, 18.3 percent of the victims say they use their bikes 3-4 times a week while 13.3 percent said that they use their bikes 5 times a week.

With the increase in bike theft, Ottawa Police was interested to ask survey participants if such thefts was top of mind - close to 74 percent were aware of and approx. 26 percent were unaware of this trend. The majority (98.3%) of the victims surveyed now believe that bike theft has become a major issue in Ottawa.  

When asked if their opinions of the police have changed after their interaction, the victims’ answers were divided. 29 (48.3%) of them said yes while 31 (51.7%) said no. Most victims (98.3%) claimed to have had a positive experience with the police.

The majority (86.7%) believe that the Ottawa Police Service needs to allocate more resources in order to combat bike theft.

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CONTACT: 

Media Relations Office

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext.  5366

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, December 5, 2023   10:15 am

A bike initiative results in the recovery of 56 stolen bikes

(Ottawa) – From mid-May to mid-October, proactive policing efforts from Ottawa Police Service D Platoon ByWard Market area members resulted in the recovery of 56 stolen bikes valued at approximately $71,050.

32 of the 56 stolen bicycles (valued at $42,600) were returned to their rightful owner in person; and 24 bicycles (valued at $28,450) were found abandoned by police and their owners are being sought. If you were the victim of a bike theft, you can make a report online.

 A total of 29 of the 32 bikes returned to their owner were registered through 529 Garage App or identified by police using the Stolen Bikes Ottawa Facebook group in their investigation to check if the located bike was stolen and contact the owner. The other three bike owners were identified quickly as they had reported the missing bike to police.

 “During the pandemic, Ottawa has seen a record number of bike thefts, driven by their increasing value and unmatched versatility,” said Acting Staff Sergeant Evan Hung, who led the OPS bike initiative. “Social media platforms, including Facebook and specialized platforms like 529 Garage, have proven to be an asset for law enforcement and bike owners.”

Ottawa Police continues to leverage digital tools and engage with the broader community through virtual interconnectedness, sharing of key bike descriptors, enabling residents to play an active role in the recovery of stolen bikes.

“Through a proactive approach, D Platoon members have demonstrated their commitment to scouring local markets and online platforms, to return stolen bikes to their rightful owners,” added A/S/Sgt Hung.

The D Platoon team also conducted a Bike Theft survey with the victims of thefts encountered through this initiative. The results will be shared with the community in the coming weeks.

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CONTACT: 

Media Relations Office

Tel: 613-236-1222, ext.  5366